It would appear that Under Armour just got some serious competition in the realm of advanced moisture-wicking/cooling undergarments for military Special Operations (SPECOPS) and law enforcement (LE) SWAT/SRT operators. An Israeli company called Zensah™ Performance (based in Tel-Aviv, Israel) is making tactical compression shirts that utilize high-tech moisture-wicking, bacteriostatic nylon/polyamide microfibers. Zensah Tactical seamless compression apparel was originally developed specifically for military Special Operations Forces (SOF) to be worn under tactical body armor and tactical clothing during direct action/dynamic tactical operations, including dynamic CQB (Close Quarters Battle). Zensah Performance states that these Zensah Tactical seamless compression shirts are "the most technical tactical shirts to date".

As the company (Zensah) notes, keeping the operator cool is not only important for ensuring optimum operator performance, but also offers a secondary benefit–aiding the operator in…

avoiding detection from enemy forces that might be employing thermal cameras or scopes to target him.

Zensah Tactical seamless compression shirts utilize FreeSeam™ seamless construction, which gives the operator a "true second skin fit" and eliminates chafing, keeping him much more comfortable. Military Special Operations (SPECOPS) personnel, LE SWAT/SRT operators, and private military company (PMC) operators (like PSD/Security Operators) can’t afford to have anything going on that distracts them from the mission at hand–chafing included.

Zensah Tactical garments also utilize silver ions that kill bacteria and assist in conducting/pulling heat away from the tactical operator’s body while the Zensah™ fabric wicks moisture away from his skin , keeping him both cool and dry during dynamic tactical operations. This anti-bacterial (or, bacteriostatic) aspect, as far as DefRev is aware, is currently unique in the tactical undergarment field, but we haven’t yet confirmed this.

DefenseReview recently received samples of the short and long-sleeve Zensah Tactical shirts. The samples we received are both black in color, but white appears to also be available. We don’t yet know if the Zensah Tactical shirts are available in O.D. green and desert tan, but we hope so. We’ll be testing our samples out, shortly. We’re also going to be speaking with and interviewing Ryan Oliver, Zensah’s marketing manager here in the U.S., about the Zensah technology, including the silver ion aspect. Once we do both these things, we’ll publish a follow-up article on the Zensah products. It should be noted that the author has tried on both shirts Defense Review received, and can personally attest to the comfort factor associated with Zensah Tactical undergarments’ FreeSeam™ seamless construction. Comfy, indeed.

The Zensah Tactical seamless compression shirts come in both short and long-sleeve configurations. The short-sleeve shirt retails for $39.95. The long-sleeve version will run you $49.95, retail.

By the way, Zensah also makes tactical seamless compression shorts, which cost $34.95 a pair. Zensah Tactical shorts utilize the same Zensah™ fabric and design, and, according to the company, "are the simply most effective product of their kind".

You can contact Zensah™ Performance in the U.S. by phone at 305-984-6436 (Miami, FL). Fax number is 305-675-0221. You can reach them via email at [email protected]. Ask for Ryan Oliver.

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About David Crane

David Crane started publishing online in 2001. Since that time, governments, military organizations, Special Operators (i.e. professional trigger pullers), agencies, and civilian tactical shooters the world over have come to depend on Defense Review as the authoritative source of news and information on "the latest and greatest" in the field of military defense and tactical technology and hardware, including tactical firearms, ammunition, equipment, gear, and training.